Birthday Farm Bike Goes on Sale

Today is a milestone day for DEKALB. The company got its start 100 years ago when a group of 11 northern Illinois farmers, bankers and county officials started what became the DEKALB brand. To celebrate the milestone for the tech-driven farm-focused company, DEKALB commissioned the creation of its own "chopper" motorcycle, which got its debut at the 2011 Farm Progress Show and 2011 Husker Harvest Days events.

KEY DETAILS: This board tracker look gives the DEKALB Chopper a vintage feel, but make no mistake this is one modern bike.

The bike is on its whirlwind tour, but starting today, you can bid on the bike to make it your very own. The custom machine, with its "wood" accent details and winged custom wheels is flex-fuel compliant and ready to run. "DEKALB is proud to celebrate 100 years of service to the agricultural industry," says Jason Hoag, marketing lead. Hoag led the way on the chopper project. But that's not the only thing that's firing up this week.

The company has launched a DEKALB 100 Microsite about the entire 100th anniversary effort. You can learn more at www.dekalb.com/100 and includes the full history of the company, a merchandise area and a "winged-ear" illustration gallery. And you can enjoy more - Facebook fans - by following the business a www.facebook.com/DEKALB.

LUCKY ME: Had to include a picture of me (on the right handing off the mike) with Paul Jr. who turned the bike over to Jason Hoag, marketing lead, DEKALB, and Robb Fraley, chief technology officer, Monsanto, during the 2011 Farm Progress Show. The event was taped for the Discovery Channel profile of the production of this bike.

As for the bike? The 100th anniversary bike auction started at 8 a.m. Jan. 20. The commemorative bike, built by Paul Jr. Designs of Discovery Channel's "American Chopper - Senior vs. Junior" includes historic references including an antique board-tracker design, nickel plating and the winged ear logo. The auction will run through April 1, with the winning bidder being presented with the bike at the 2012 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. All proceeds go to the American Red Cross. Leading up to the big key hand-off the bike will be criss-crossing the country stopping at a range of events. Check the auction details at www.dekalb.com/100.

You can check out our original coverage of the bike - including my talk with Paul Jr. at Worth the Wait, which gives you more background on the project.